It’s not the prettiest part of composting, but it’s the most important: collecting the scraps. Luckily, there are plenty of fashionable and attractive ways to collect your bits of carrot peeling, radish leaves and coffee grounds. Here are five to check out:
Full Circle Kitchen Scrap Collector & Freezer Compost Bin
This attractive collector, made from silicone and partially recycled stainless steel, lets you collect kitchen scraps and store them in the freezer. They’ll be out-of-the-way and odor-free until you’re ready to take them out to the compost bin. You can also use it to collect veggies for stock. Dishwasher safe. $14.95.
Gardener’s Supply Company Kitchen Compost Crock
This is an attractive crock made out of glazed ceramic and holds 3 1/2 quarts. It has an activated-carbon filter for trapping odors and comes in white, blue or red. $29.95
Mr. Eco Pro-Compost Trash Can
This compost-only trash can is odorless and keeps the scraps out-of-sight. It’s made out of recycled plastic and includes a wall mount and three compostable bags for holding scraps. $43.95
simplehuman Compost Pail
This is an attractive stainless steel pail with a bamboo handle that comes complete with two odor-absorbing filters. $59.99
Sure Close Kitchen Container
This container has a two-gallon capacity, a vented and locking lid, and an ergonomic, easy-carry grip. It’s also dishwasher safe. $14.95
If you don’t want to get a special container for your kitchen scraps, don’t let that stop you from composting. Any covered bowl or bucket will do the trick. The key is to get into the habit of collecting all compostable scraps and carrying them regularly out to the compost pile. Once it’s part of your daily routine, you won’t even need to think about it.